Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant getting a game suspension for his offensive flopping is perfectly fine. Sitting down Detroit forward Rasheed Wallace a game for getting too many technical fouls is understandable. Sentencing Denver forward Carmelo Anthony to 15 games for his role in the Brawl II was even commendable.

But you really want to take a stand against unbecoming conduct, vice president Stu Jackson? Do you really want to show the league is serious about its image, commissioner Stern? Then stick it to Ron Artest, who was recently arrested for domestic violence.

Of course, let the legal system play out first (because he’s innocent until proven guilty, right?). But he needs to get a lengthy suspension. Not because he’s a perennial bad boy who got in trouble again. But because he committed a crime that is far more repulsive than New York’s Nate Robinson inciting a fight; because he did something worse than get caught with potential performance enhancing substances in his system, which got Detroit guard Lindsay Hunter a 10-game suspension.

The NBA, over the last few years, have gone out of its way to change its image, from the dress code to the no-complaining edict. But while they thoroughly police appearances, they have failed to stand firm on serious offenses.

How do you explain Sacramento head coach Eric Musselman and Charlotte assistant coach John-Blair Bickerstaff getting just two games apiece for being convicted of DWIs? Does it get too much more serious than drunk driving?

Per the NBA’s standard, it’s just above leaving the bench during a fight (which warrants a one-game suspension), but significantly less serious than testing positive for marijuana (which warrants a five-game suspension).

In January 2006, Chicago’s Antonio Davis was suspended for five games running into the stands to defend his wife. About a month later, Boston’s Sebastian Telfair was suspended for two games for carrying a gun onto the team plane. That doesn’t add up.

NBA players are more afraid of criticizing officials than getting caught with weed, and the NBA shares some blame in that. The league can really practice what it preaches by taking a stand against universally rejected behavior such as violence against women.

CHEAP LABOR: Portland small forward Ime Udoka, who makes just $744,551 this season, has proven to be one of the league’s best bargains, along with the Warriors guard Ellis ($644,209) and Los Angeles Lakers starting point guard Smush Parker ($798,112).

Udoka, who was added to the roster a week before training camp to replace injured forward Darius Miles, is one of 20 players who have started all of his team’s games this season.

Udoka is fourth on the team in scoring (8.8) and is one of the Trail Blazers’ best shooters. He’s at 48 percent from the field, including a team-best 40.3 percent from behind the arc, and 75.6 percent from the free throw line.

But his primary role is as Portland’s version of a defensive stopper as he always guards the opponents’ best perimeter player. Which matches him up against the Kobe Bryants and Carmelo Anthonys of the world.

“T-Mac, he got me the worst,” Udoka told the Portland Tribune, referring to the 28 points Tracy McGrady dropped on him Jan. 26.

Udoka isn’t a lock to be in Portland next season. He’s a free agent, but whether Portland re-signs him us up to the next team president and general manager, who have yet to be named.

“Will we continue with the direction we are currently going? What do we need?” Portland coach Nate McMillan told the Tribune. “Ime has done some really good things, but we have to evaluate everything, including guys who are free agents. Is Ime even here if Darius is playing? And Darius is back next year. Travis (Outlaw) is really a small forward, Martell (Webster) will have two years under his belt, and we’ll have a draft pick.”

ON BOARD: In their first 55 games, Philadelphia was in the bottom five of the league in rebound margin. But the Sixers have recently turned it around on the boards.

Center Samuel Dalembert is averaging 12.6 rebounds his last 13 games, raising his rebounding average to 9.3. His fellow twin tower, Steven Hunter, has averaged 6.9 rebounds over the last eight games despite a dislocated left pinkie. Forward Joe Smith, an expiring contract acquired in the Allen Iverson trade, has averaged 6.0 rebounds with the Sixers. As a result, Philadelphia – once the worst team in the East, entered Saturday 4.5 games out of a playoff spot.

Marcus Thompson is a former sports columnist for the Bay News Group and author of "Golden: The Miraculous Rise of Steph Curry." After 10 years as an NBA beat writer, he is a leading voice on the Golden State Warriors. An Oakland native, he gives us a relevant voice in the East Bay. He's been with the organization since 1999.

(Click here if you are unable to view this photo gallery on your mobile device) The Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek celebrates the life of its founder Ruth Bancroft who died at 109 on November 26, 2017. The Ruth Bancroft Garden is a nonprofit public dry garden that was planted by Mrs. Ruth Bancroft in 1972 and was opened to the...